Strainer



Aug. 30, 1932. ANDREWS 1,874,410

I s'rmmsa Filed Aug. 9, 1930 l atented Aug. 30, 1932 umrsn STATES PATENT OFFICE UHARLES ANDREWS, 0F ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO THE WASHBURH COE- IPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A.- CORPORA'IION OI MASSACHUSETTS STBAINEE Application filed August it, rose. term! No. 474,281.

This invention relates to strainers, and has mticular reference to a strainer for a food ess and ricer adapted to handle vegetables, l'ruits, and the like.x

The principal object of my invention is to provide a utensil for all. around use of sturdy, durable, end economical construction, and made ofthe fewest possible number of parts which are, furthermore, adapted to be taken m apart quiclrly and easily to facilitate cleaning thereof, and so as also to permit of the substitution of a bowl of one mesh screen for another bowl to meet any requirement.

The food press is made up of tour parts, namely, the screen bowl or hopper, the suping'ilrame therefor, in which the same is ranged tc be detachahly mounted, and the roller or food extractor for cooperation with e howl having" a one-piece wire holder in oh the roller ,is detachably mounted. The

howl supporting frame is made of wire to a 2 is horizontal section on the line i Figure 3. showing the frame in plan,

letter also having its normal and its ead condition indicated in dotted lines,

3 is a view of the roller and handle, the some being shown also in dotted line positions, indicating the method of' assembling and disassembling,

4:: The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the parts enerally, the food press comprises a screen howl or hopper 10 mounted in a frame 11 provided with a hanolle l2, and a roller 13 carried on a 'holder 14.. The frame 11 for the strainer, in accordance with my invention, is made from as single piece of wire bent so as to form" com plemental arcuate portions 15, which to ether approximate a circle for reception o "the bowl 10, but are bent outwardly at twolaterally spaced points 16 at one side of the circle and at two other laterally spaced points 17 at the diametrically opposite side so as to form substantially U-shaped projecting toe and heel portions 18 and 19, respectively, The free ends of the wire project from the heel portion 19 into the handle 1%, as indicated at 20. It will be observed that the ends are entered into the handle for enough to bring the ferrule on the handle into such close proximity with the heel portion 19 as to prevent displacement of said ferrule from said handle. In many utensils, Where no such precaution is taken, the ferrule worlrs loose and itis quite an annoyance to have to re place it on the handle practically every time the utensil is used. The toe and heel or tions are adapted to support the utensi on the rim of a suitable dish or other receptacle 21. The said toe and heel portions oi" sullicient length so that the utensil will u reasonably large range of sizes of dishes, The

front end of the toe portion 18 is hent wardly, as indicated at 22 in Fig, l, for shut 1:

ment with the outside of the rim to keep the utensil from dropping down in the that end, and the handle 12 constitutes licient projection ut the rear end of heel portion 19 to serve by abutment with out-- side of the rim of the dish to keep that end oi the utensil in place, The screen howl it) comprises a screen 23 held in a circular sheet metal frame 24 by the crimping or the lower edge 25 thereon in the usual manner, The upper edge of the sheet metal frame 524 is rolled so as to provide an outwardly prajecting rim 26, and slightly below this an annular, outwardly projecting head 27 is pro vided. The wire frame 11 is arranged to have the arcuate portions 15 thereof fit on the frame 24 betweenthe rim 26 and bead 27. In order, however, that the frame 11 will hug the frame 24, the portions 15, which, of course, aggregate less than 360, normally Fill occupy a position within concentricitv, as indicated in dotted lines at a in Fig. 2. en, as the frame 11 is forced over the bead 27, .as the resilience of the toe and heel portions 18 and 19 permits, the portions are spread to a position beyond concentricity, as indicated in dotted lines at b in Fig. 2. Hence, after the portions 15 have passed over the bead 27, and contract so as to fit between the bead and the rim 26, and are disposed substantially concentric with one another and with the frame 24, the portions 15, by reason i of the inherent resilience of the frame, grip the frame 24 tightly enough to keep the The'bowl may, however, be removed quickly and easil when desired, either for the purose of c caning the utensil, or when a bowl aving a different mesh screen is to be used. Thus, a bowl having a screen of a mesh suitable for ricing potatoes would not be suitable for straining grape juice or for some other purpose, and, for that reason, it is contemplated to sell the utensil with a suitable number of screen bowls of different meshes to meet any requirements. The bowls will, of course, have the same sized sheet metal frame 24, formed in the manner above described, so that each bowl will fit in the wire frame 11, as described.

The roller 13 and holder 14, and the combination of the roller and screen bowl, form the subject matter of a divisional ap lication, Serial No. 573,559 filed November 7,

mately ellipsoidal form, the surface thereof being arcuate and conforming to the shape of the inside of the bowl 10 so, as to operate in the latter with a rolling action, as indicated in Fig. 1, to press the substance being operated upon through the screen. The roller has an axial hole 28 drilled through it for reception of the trunnions 29 of the holder 14 on which the roller is mounted for rotation. The holder 14: is formed from a single piece of heavy wire bent intermediate the ends thereof, as at 30, to form a narrow elongated U-shaped handle 31. The sides of the U are bent inwardly toward each other, as at 32, at the front end of the handle 31 to provide abutting portions 33, and are then bent outwardly in diverging relation to one another to provide the yoke portion 3 1. The free ends of the wire are bent inwardly toward one another, as at 35, to provide the trunnions .29 on the yoke. The wire of the holder 14 has sufiicient resilience to permit spreading thereof from the full line position s own in Fi 3 to the dotted line position, whereby to isen age the one trunnion 29 from the hole 28 or removal of the roller 13 from the holder. By reason of the special forming of the holder, it is obvious that a spread of the yoke 34 sufiicient to disengage 05 or reengage one of the trunnions 29 does not the elastic limit, the roller can be removed which the roller can be removed and replaced .mits thoroughl bowl from turning around or coming out.

1931. The roller 13 is of elongated, approxicall for much flexing at the bend 30, due to the remoteness of the bend with reference to the trunnions. Hence, since the wire holder does not have to be spread anywhere near and replaced as often as necessary and the holder will always stay the same and give the same satisfactory service. The facility with is, oteourse, a great advantage since 1t percleanin the parts. The fact that the si es of the andle 31 are bent into abutment at 33 prevents contraction of the yoke 34, and the roller 13 is, therefore, always free for easy operation. In other words, it makes no diflerence how tightly one grips the handle 31. The abutment at 33 also prevents needless fiexing of the wire at 30 in the gripping of the handle, which might otherwise in the course of time result in fatigue at the bend and possibly breakage.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a clear understanding of all of the objects and advantages of my invention. It should be understood that while I have disclosed a screen bowl or hopper, the same might be formed of perforated sheet metal or of any other foraminous material, and

while the same has been disclosed as of a semispherical form, it might be made in other forms. Then, too, while the utensil is adapted for use as a food press and ricer, it is in reality a combination of handy utensils, since the screen "bowl or hopper makes a splendid strainer or colander when used alone. The extracting andstraining functions of the utensil are thought to be selfevident; the juice or other substance is arranged to pass through the screen, and the skins and seeds will remain in the bowl. The rolling action of the roller'on the inside of the bowl presses out or extracts the lastvestig'eof-food orjuice and reduces the amount of waste-to a minimum.

I claim:

1. In a strainer comprising a bowl having a circular supporting rim, a one-piece wire supporting frame bent to provide complemental arcuate portions at opposite sides thereof defining a ring for detachable rem5 ception of the rim of the bowl, and, at diametrically opposite sides of the ring, .a projecting substantially U-shaped toe portion and a projecting substantially U-shaped heel portion to rest on the rim of a suitable receptacle, the free ends of the wire of said frame being bent outwardly at the back of the heel portion, and a handle for said frame having the free ends of said wire entered therein, whereby to hold the frame intact and provide connection between the handle and frame, said U-shaped toe and heel portions serving not only to provide broad supports for the bowl for steady rest on the receptacle, but also permitting a certain amount of spreading of the ring defined by the complemental arcuate portions, K U-sliaped portions being elongated and having the desired resilience, whereby said ring is adapted to spread to admit the rim of the bowl and thereafter grip the same frictionally.

2. In a strainer comprising a bowl having a circular supporting rim, a one-piece wire frame for supporting the bowl and adapted to detachably receive the supporting rim of said bowl, and a handle having the free ends of the wire of said frame entered therein to close the frame and provide connection for said frame with the handle, said wire being bent in the form of a ring for reception of the rim of, the-bowl, and being further bent to' provide aprojecting substantially U-shaped heel portion between the ring and handle to rest on the-rim of a suitable receptacle, said U-shaped heel portion serving not only to provide a broad support for the bowl for steady rest on the receptacle, but also permitting a certain amount of spreading of the ring for entry or removal of the rim of the bowl, the sides of the U-shaped portion being elongated and having the desired resilience, whereby said rin is adapted to spread to admitthe rim 0 the bowl and thereafter grip the same frictionally.

3. In a strainer comprising a bowl having a circular supportingrim, a one-piece wire supporting frame bent to provide complemental arcuate portions at opposite s des thereof defining a ring for reception of the rim of the bowl, and, at diametrically opposite sides of the ring, substantially U- shaped projecting portions to rest on therim of a suitable receptacle, the free ends of the wire ofsaid frame being bent outwardly at a certain point with respect to the ring, and a handle for said frame having the free ends of said wire entered therein, whereby to holdthe frame intact and provide connection between the handle .and frame, said U-shaped portions serving not only to provide broad supports for the bowl for steady rest on the receptacle, but also permitting a certain amount of spreading of the complemental arcuate portions, the sides of the U-shaped portions being elongated and'having the desired resilience, whereby said portions are adapted to spread to admit the rim of the bowl in the ring and thereafter cause the arcuate portions to" grip the same frictionally. 0

' 4. In a strainer comprising'a bowl having a "circular supporting rim, a one-piece wire 7 frame for supporting the bowl and adapted to detachably receive the supporting rim of the sides ;of the elongated and having rim of the bowl, and being further bent to provide a projecting substantially U-shaped heel portion between the ring and handle to rest on the rim of a suitable receptacle, said U-shaped heel ortion serving not only to provide a. broad support for the bowl for steady rest on the receptacle, but also permitting a certain amount of spreading of the ring for entry or removal of the rim of the bowl, the sides of the U-shaped portion being the desired resilience,

whereby said ring is adapted to spread to admit the rim of the bowl and thereafter grip the same frictionally, and a ferrule on the inner end of said handle through which the free ends of the wire are passed to enter the handle, said handle having the ends of the wire entered therein far enough to bring the ferrule in such close proximitywith the heel portion of the frame, whereby to prevent displacement of the ferrule from the handle.

5. In a strainer comprising a bowl having a circular supporting rim, a one-piece wire supporting frame bent to provide complemental arcuate portions at opposite sides thereof defining a ring for reception of the rim of the bowl, and, at diametrically opposite sides of the ring, a projecting su stantially U-shaped toe portion and a projecting substantially U-shaped heel portion to rest on the rim-of a suitable receptacle, the free'ends of the wire of said frame being bent outwardly at the back of the heel portion, a-handle for said frame having the free ends of said wire entered therein, whereby to hold the frame intact and provide connection between the handle and frame, and a ferrule on the inner end of said handle through which the free ends of the wire are passed to enter the handle, said handle having the ends of'the wire entered therein far enough to bring the ferrule in such close proximity with theheel portionof the frame whereby to prevent dispacement of the fernature. a

CHARLES ANDREWS.

said bowl, and a handle having the free ends of the wire 0f} said frame entered therein to close the frame and provide connection for said frame with the handle, said wire being bent in the form of a ring for reception of the sis 

